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Flowers and houseplants : article

Hyacinth's fragrant punch makes scents

Hydrangeas, the bold chameleon of plants

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bold, eye-catching hydrangeas appear at floral shops and garden centers now through Mother’s Day.“Hydrangea’s regal elegance is uncommon among potted plants,” said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.

In thymes of old, Rosemary used lavender to freshen the air

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Long before plug-in air fresheners and scented candles, people used plants to make their homes more livable by masking unpleasant odors.

Inexpensive fall centerpieces bloom with beauty

COLUMBIA, Mo. –Look no further than your back yard for inexpensive fall centerpieces. That’s the advice from Kim Martin, manager of Tiger Garden, the student-run floral shop on the University of Missouri campus. The shop celebrated its grand re-opening recently with special events and workshops.

Iris math: Divide and multiply to add beauty

Enhance your garden's beauty by dividing and replanting overgrown iris clumps every 3-4 years to promote vibrant blooms and healthy growth.

Iris, goddess of rainbows, splashes color over spring gardens

COLUMBIA, Mo. – According to Greek mythology, a golden-winged goddess named Iris traveled on a rainbow to bring messages from gods to mortals. Legend has it that colorful flowers sprung up at the end of the rainbow wherever she stepped.

It's all about the slime: Building living soil

COLUMBIA, Mo.

It's time to protect plants from frost

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide tells us that frost is likely coming within two weeks in the northernmost part of the state.

Kick-start the gardening season by turning it inside out

COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is hard to think about gardening when the weather is cool. “However, now is the perfect time to start seeds of certain garden plants indoors so they will be ready for transplant when warmer weather arrives,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David…

Leave the leaves after blooms fade

COLUMBIA, Mo. – What winter-weary heart is not thawed by the arrival of sunshine-yellow daffodils and colorful tulips? Unfortunately, once their blooms fade, these harbingers of spring are often relegated to afterthoughts, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Less is more: Time to divide and conquer perennials

COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Some perennials can suffer from too much of a good thing,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Lily: More than just an Easter plant

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you mention the word “lily” to most people, they’ll think of the Easter lily. Although an attractive potted plant, that pure white beauty struggles somewhat in Missouri’s climate if planted outdoors, said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri…

Low temperatures leave plants in the cold

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Winter-hardy perennial flowers likely will survive April’s historic low temperatures across Missouri, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Their tender annual counterparts, however, may not be so lucky.

Magnolia flowers tantalize the senses

Discover the allure of magnolias, from the early-blooming star magnolia to the native cucumber tree, each offering unique beauty and fragrance.

Many vegetables grow well in high tunnels

COLUMBIA, Mo. While tomatoes are the most popular choice for high tunnel production, many other vegetables, fruits and flowers flourish in the controlled environment of high tunnels, said University of Missouri Extension regional horticulture specialist James Quinn.

Master Gardener nurtures school garden that fuels love of food, community

Includes sidebar, “Tips for gardening with children.”   ST. LOUIS – A Master Gardener nurtures little minds and mouths at Sacred Heart Villa, a preschool in St. Louis.

Master Gardener training begins Feb. 26 in Hillsboro

HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension in Jefferson County will hold Master Gardener classes Monday evenings at Jefferson College’s Hillsboro campus. Weekly classes will be 6:30-9:30 p.m., Feb. 26 to May 7, said MU Extension horticulturist Debi Kelly.

Master Gardeners do more than garden

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – St. Louis area Master Gardeners may be as well known for their community spirit as for the beautiful and bountiful gardens they tend.

Mexico's national flower brightens Missouri gardens

Mexico’s national flower, the dahlia, thrives in Missouri gardens with its vibrant colors and rich history. Learn to grow and care for these stunning blooms.

Minor bulbs make major impact in spring gardens

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Mistletoe: A dangerous holiday decoration

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Use it to steal a kiss, but keep it away from children, pets and yourself. Every part of mistletoe, an evergreen plant with white berries, is highly toxic.

Mistletoe: Menacing plant with an intriguing past

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Of all the plants used in holiday decor, few match mistletoe’s interesting history. And few equal its potential for harm.An evergreen plant with white berries, mistletoe is quite toxic, said David Trinklein, horticulture state specialist for University of Missouri Extension.

Mow or compost leaves for best results

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some gardeners take a hands-off approach to leaves in the fall. But leaves allowed to remain on lawns can pack down to form a tight mat that prevents sunlight from reaching the grass, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

MU Extension horticulturist searches for rare Ozark butterfly

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan is on the hunt for the elusive Ozark woodland swallowtail, a pollinator unique to the Ozark region of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.

MU Extension research on lavender finds options for Missouri growers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After three years of research, University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialists are learning how to successfully grow lavender in Missouri.

MU Master Gardener blooms with floral subscription service

CLARENCE, Mo. – Pam Stenger keeps memories of her grandmother’s flower garden alive by offering floral bouquets through a Community Supported Agriculture subscription service.

MU Master Gardeners build mini-greenhouses

VERSAILLES, Mo. – Ozark Prairie Master Gardeners know that good things come in small packages. That is why mini-greenhouses are growing throughout the Lake of the Ozarks region. The mini-greenhouses are the brainchild of Dan Britton, president of the Ozark Prairie Master Gardeners chapter in…

MU researcher finds pigweed in birdseed and pollinator mixes

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri researchers, under the direction of MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley, are finding that pigweed seed is popping up in birdseed in alarming numbers. “It’s pretty shocking,” graduate student Eric Oseland told those attending the annual Integrated Pest…

Mulch ado about something

Mulch conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and enriches soil. Use 2–4 inches of organic mulch like pine bark or grass clippings for best results.

Mum's forgotten cousin bursts with fall color

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Mums take center stage when summer flowers take a bow

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few flowers signal fall’s arrival more than the cheerful chrysanthemum, or mum, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Mums’ long-lasting blooms put on a colorful display for weeks when other flowers have called it quits for the season.

Munch a bunch of edible flowers

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Edible blooms give flower power to spring meals, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. 

Nativars: Superheroes of the plant world

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nativars, superhero plants that possess the virtues of native plants but in a more attractive package, make good choices for landscaped areas. Use nativars as part of your gardening “green movement,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

New petunias pack a punch of color

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bursting with color and relatively low-maintenance, petunias are a longtime favorite of gardeners. But that wasn’t always the case.

New varieties can add spark to flower beds

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Norfolk Island pine: A houseplant for the holidays and beyond

NEVADA, Mo. – If you don’t have time or space for a large Christmas tree, consider a Norfolk Island pine.

On patrol for critter control

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pest control in the garden might conjure images of a season-long battle with bugs, weeds and diseases. But sometimes four-legged “friends” such as deer, rabbits and squirrels can inflict far more damage, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Ounce of prevention in fall is best medicine for garden success in spring

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ben Franklin’s adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could be gardeners’ theme song for November.

Overwintering tropical plants

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Many tropical plants thrive in the heat and humidity of a typical Missouri summer and can make great outdoor patio plants. But as temperatures drop in the fall, conditions can quickly become deadly.

Pansy: A flower to welcome spring

COLUMBIA, Mo.–There is no more popular cool-season flower tha

Pansy: A flower for all seasons

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If there’s a plant that deserves the title of “flower for all seasons,” it is the pansy, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. At any given time in North America, you will find pansies blooming prolifically somewhere.

Pansy: Not just another pretty face

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing says spring like the shining faces of pansies.But pansies aren’t just for spring, says David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.

Pansy: The smiley face flower

COLUMBIA, Mo. – “If ever there was a flower that brings a smile to people’s faces, it has to be pansy,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Peonies thrive on neglect, can live more than 100 years

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Peonies serve as the traditional flower of Memorial Day. Their huge, lavish blossoms stand as fragrant sentinels in country cemeteries, conjuring memories of times and people past.

Peony: A Memorial Day tradition

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the 1800s, peonies were one of the few flowers in bloom in late May. After the Civil War, mourners used peonies to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers on Decoration Day, which we now call Memorial Day.

Perennial of the Year steeped in American patriotism

COLUMBIA, Mo. – When American colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in 1773 as a political protest, they faced a dilemma. What could they use to make tea, since the continued drinking of British tea would be deemed unpatriotic?

Picking pretty poinsettias

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No flower says Christmas like the poinsettia. Now is the time of year when these colorful plants adorn mantels, tables and hallways across the country.

Plant bulbs in fall for spring beauty

Plant bulbs in fall for beautiful spring blooms. Choose early, mid, and late-blooming varieties for continuous color and plant in groups for impact.

Plant bulbs now for a colorful spring

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Springtime favorites such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths won’t greet you next year if they’re not planted in the fall.

Plant daffodils now for early spring color

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Plant Dutch bulbs now for springtime surprise

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Now is the time to prepare for some of the earliest arrivals of spring: flowers borne by Dutch bulbs. These flowers include the likes of narcissus (daffodil), tulip, hyacinth and crocus.

Plant now for seeds of success

Plant seeds indoors now for a head start on a successful garden. Follow simple steps to grow healthy plants and enjoy a vibrant harvest.

Plant shopping: Where to start?

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.

Plant these 'fab four' for flowers galore

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Planting seeds of thought for choosing seeds

COLUMBIA, Mo. – As winter sets in, gardeners thumb through seed catalogs in anticipation of next year’s gardens.But not all seed sources are created equal, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Katie Kammler.

Planting wonderful sweet peas

MARBLE HILL, Mo.

Plants can remove indoor air pollutants

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Overwintering plants indoors may improve air quality in your home during the long, chilly months, said a University of Missouri horticulturist."Research has found that plants can be very useful in absorbing harmful pollutants," said Mary Kroening.

Poinsettia: America's most popular flower

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Poinsettia is our nation’s most popular potted flowering plant. What makes this remarkable is that most poinsettias are sold between the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Poinsettia: America’s No. 1 potted flower is relative newbie to the holidays

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Poinsettia is America’s most popular flowering plant, with annual sales approaching $200 million. Despite its close association with the Christmas season, however, it’s a relative newcomer as holiday home decor, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Poinsettias can bloom again next year with TLC

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Poinsettias: Not toxic, not too tasty

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Scientific studies have declared the poinsettia harmless, but the plant is still dogged by its reputation as a grave menace to children and pets. “It’s a myth that poinsettias are toxic,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Poppy: A remembrance of fallen heroes

The red poppy symbolizes remembrance of soldiers who died in combat, inspired by John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields."

Poppy: Remembrance of fallen heroes

The red poppy symbolizes remembrance of soldiers who died in combat, inspired by John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields." More than a century later the poppy still symbolizes Memorial Day and is used to honor our fallen military heroes.

Practice good garden hygiene by sanitizing tools

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners sho

Practice patience when preparing garden soil

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Spring is almost here, but gardeners shouldn’t be too quick to start working the soil, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.

Reblooming poinsettias a horticultural challenge

COLUMBIA, Mo.– It’s not easy and the results may be less than hoped for, but a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist suggests anyone with a green thumb might try reblooming a poinsettia at least once.

Red, white and blue for the green thumb

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Plan now to use basic design principals to create a patriotic garden this summer, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk.

Romantic Valentine's Day houseplants

Gift heart-shaped plants like philodendron, pothos, hoya, and cyclamen for Valentine's Day—they symbolize lasting love and affection.

Rose rosette continues to plague garden roses

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Rose rosette is a devastating disease of roses. There is no cure. Infected rose bushes should be removed from the landscape and destroyed, said David Trinklein, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.

Safe gardening grows your mindfulness

Gardening enhances physical and mental well-being by providing exercise, time in nature and healthy food. Follow safety guidelines to maximize these benefits.

Sanitize tools for good garden hygiene

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners sho

Saving seeds not a good investment

COLUMBIA, Mo. — A penny saved is a penny earned, but saving seeds from the garden can be a questionable use of time and energy.

Second annual Mid-Mo Expo set for backyard gardeners, small farmers

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The second annual Mid-Mo Expo for backyard gardeners and small farmers offers presentations and demonstrations to improve productivity and profits.

Sedum: Pollinators love this easy-peasy purple and pink plant

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sedums, also known as stonecrop, are low-maintenance plants that come with a host of benefits.

Selecting and caring for your poinsettia

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No flower says Christmas like the poinsettia. Now is the time of year when these colorful plants adorn mantels, tables and hallways across the country.

Send your plants on a tropical vacation

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Snowbird season for houseplants

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Soil testing kits available at local MU Extension centers

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Submitting soil samples to your local University of Missouri Extension center is easy, says Manjula Nathan, director of the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory.

Some flowers strut their colors in fall

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Spring flowers shine from bulbs planted in the fall

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you think autumn is the time to put away your gardening tools for the year, think again. It’s bulb-planting time.

Spring into April with season-inspired plants

COLUMBIA, Mo. – April is the season of new beginnings, especially for plant lovers. Outdoors, spring-flowering bulbs, shrubs and trees dot the landscape. Indoors, seasonal plants enliven and brighten dreary rooms, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.

Start plant care now for 2025 holiday blooms

Source: David Trinklein, 573-882-9631 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Holiday plants can live to bloom another year with proper care, said University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein. Now is the time to start that care.

Sunflower: The story of this summer goddess begins with search for love

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The sunflower’s story begins with a tale of unrequited love.

Supersized moth looks like a hummingbird

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The hummingbird moth is the Superman of the summer flower garden.

Take poinsettia off Santa's 'naughty' list

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A century ago, poinsettia was added to Santa’s “naughty” list, but the plant’s reputation for being poisonous is unfortunate, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Its pretty bracts and leaves pose no danger to people and pets, other than possible…

Terrariums: Nature in a bottle

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Terrariums are back in style for plant lovers, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

The cost of loving your garden too much

Overwatering and excessive care can harm your garden. Learn how to strike the right balance for healthy plants and a thriving landscape.

The flower that thrives on neglect

Tough and low-maintenance, spiderwort brings beauty to gardens with minimal care, thriving in poor soil and partial shade.

The language of flowers blossoms on Valentine's Day

COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than a century ago, the floral delivery service FTD adopted the slogan “Say it with flowers.” It turns out you can say quite a bit with flowers, notes University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein.

The poor, maligned poinsettia

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every year, some well-meaning person will warn of the dangers of the poinsettia. This is an urban legend that simply will not die.Its reputation as a toxic plant is undeserved. It’s been tested for toxicity and passed as safe.

Time to transplant irises

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Now is the time to transplant one of America’s most popular flowers, the iris.Although irises can be transplanted at any time, they do best when established in the landscape from August to mid-October, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Tips on watering your garden

COLUMBIA, Mo. – How does your garden grow? No grow or slow grow? It could be your H2O. How and when you water your garden often makes the difference between healthy or diseased plants, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tom Fowler.

Tiptoe through the history of mistletoe

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Hanging mistletoe is a holiday tradition around the world. But have you ever wondered why we steal a kiss because we’re standing under some shrubbery?

Toxic poinsettias a myth

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Although scientific studies have declared the poinsettia harmless, the plant still has a questionable reputation regarding its safety, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.“It’s a myth that poinsettias are toxic,” said David Trinklein.

Tropical plants can overwinter indoors

COLUMBIA, Mo. – You may not get to take a tropical vacation this year, but you can bring the tropics inside your home.With the right light and temperature, it is possible to keep tropical patio plants indoors for another summer of enjoyment.

Truman gardens still bloom with beauty thanks to Master Gardeners

Master Gardeners continue to care for Truman Gardens, preserving its historical beauty with vibrant blooms that enhance the visitor experience.

Tuesday Tip videos bring gardening tips alive

Get expert gardening tips in short, engaging videos covering topics like plant care, pest control, and seasonal advice for gardeners at every level

Tulip history is as colorful as its flowers

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Turn milk jugs into mini-greenhouses

JACKSON, Mo. – One of your best gardening tools may be in your recycling bin, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. Use specially prepared milk jugs to jump-start your garden by winter sowing, a method of starting seeds in late winter for spring transplanting.

Using cold frames and hotbeds for a longer growing season

COLUMBIA, Mo.

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